Game.



M. L. HAWKS.

GAME.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 23. I914.

Patented Aug. 17, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

mus/won WITNESSES:

M. L. HAWKS.

GAME. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 23, I914. I M50951? Patented Aug. 17,1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

MOSES L. HAWKS, OF NEW YORK, N.

nsomnia Specification of Letters'latent.

Patented Aug. 1'7, fliers.

Application filed June 23, 1914. Serial No. ,724.

particularly of the type in which a pluralityv of balls are used to be struck by an impinging element.

A game such as billiards requires an expensive table and the use of expensive cues, which places the game beyond the reach of a person with average means except in public places where the tables may be engaged by paying a certain rental or charge. Also, in the game of billiards, the force with which the ball may be hit is usually limited as the one is moved in the direction of impact and the player has to move his hand the full distance that the tip travels in hitting the ball. Moreover, by reason of the necessity of guiding the one over a fixed guide, the stroke of the one is necessarily limited to a substantially straight line, and it is practically impossible to describe a curved path with the tip of the one as the ball is hit. In making the shots also the player has to assume a stooping, tiresome position which is very fatiguing, to a person who is not accustomed to it, after a comparatively short period of play.

The present invention has for its principal objects to provide a game which is as enjoyable as billiards and is free from the disadvantages above stated.

The game consists essentially of a platform which may be placed on a parlor floor and leveled on which the balls are rolled by a mallet having a tip like that of a cue. The handle of the mallet is of such a length that the player can stand in an easy, upright position, and the platform is lined with such material that the player can step on it when necessary to get into the best position to make a shot. The balls can be hit with great force by a slight movement of the.

moves. Also the head of the mallet being free, the cue ball may be hit with a greater variety of strokes than is possible in the ordinary game of billiards.

Further objects and advantages consisting 1n the novel arrangement and construction of the parts will more fully appear-from the detailed description and the features of novelty will be particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing illustrating this invention, Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating the platform in position upon the floor and the player in position of making a shot. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the improved mallet. Fig. 3 is a detail view in sectional elevation, partly broken away, illustrating the preferred construction of the platform, cushion and the leveling means. Fig. 4 is a fragmental detail plan view of one of the corners of the platform. Fig. 5 is a section taken along line 5-5 of Fig. 4. Referring particularly to Fig. 1, the game 1s played upon a platform having a floor portion, deslgnated generally as 10-, inclosed by vertical walls 11, on which are mounted the resilient cushions 12, from which the balls 13 are reflected as in the ordinary game of billiards. The player, however, stands erect and hits at the desired ball with a mallet 14 of a sufficient length to enable the player to reach the ball without stooping. Whenever found necessary, the player may stepwith one or both feet upon the floor 10 of the platform to make the desired shot. Generally, it will be found convenient for the player to assume a position at which he can sight along the line from the mallet ball to the next ball to be struck by the same.

The mallet itself has a handle 15 of a length preferably about two and one-half feet, such as would suit the average height of player and a double faced head 16, tapering down to tips 17, corresponding to the tip of a cue now used in billiards. With this mallet, a great variety .of shots can be made such as the English, the draw and a number of shots which are not possible in the ordinary game of billiards, such as a swinging shot for giving the ball greater curve than can now be obtained and also very fast shots and the like.

The game is particularly adaptable for indooreven parlor use, and the various parts of the apparatus are made of such inexpensive construction that the game is within reach of people of moderate means. The platform thus consists'of a series of boards 18 and 19 laid crosswise with respect to each other, forming a double floorin which is strong and stiff and will maintain 1ts level surface without warping. At the edges, the platform is reinforced on the bottom by flat steel bars 20, secured to the wood by suitable screws 21. Inclosing the platform and forming the supports for the cushions which reflect the balls are the rails or walls 11 se cured in a suitable manner to the floor as by means of nails 23 and are united at the corners by steel plates 24 secured by suitable screws 25. I

I will now describe the improved cushion which combines the advantageous features of lowcost as well as great resiliency. Formed in the interior of the rails or walls 11 is a groove 7 of substantially semi-circu lar cross section.

Against this groove is held a rubber tube or pipe 8 having a metal tube or pipe 9 as its core. The rubber tubes and cores are preferably cut off at 45 at the corners to meet at right angles, as appears in Fig. 4. This meeting point may be finished off at the interior'by the corner pieces 260 which arepreferably shaped so. as to embrace the tubes, but of such dimensions as not to interfere with the proper contact of the ball with the cushions at the corners (Fig. 4). Into the metal tube form- 11. Thus, when the ball impinges against.

the cushion as shown in Fig. 3, the entire cushion is actuated bodily inward, thus obtaining the resilient action both of the exterior and interior portion of the tube.

It will be noted in Fig. 3, that the head of the screw 27 is momentarily shifted away from the rail under the force of the impact of the ball. This bodily movement of the cushion is very advanta eous as the resiliency obtained thereby a ords the most perfect reflection of the ball. This'will be readily apparent as it will be noted that the side of the tube nearest the ball will be compressed so as to form a slight dent therein which interferes slightly with the perfect reflection. However, the bodily movement of the cushion merely gives rise to the inwardly directed force which reflects the ball according to the laws of erfect reflection.

For leveling the plat orm, the following means is provided: Passing through the rails adjacent the corners are leveling screws 28 threaded in the iron bar 20. When it is desired to level the platform, these screws are turned first on one side to level the platform in onedirection and on the other side to level in the other direction, whereupon the platform will be adjusted the desired degree. In case it should be found that there is any warping which would interfere with the perfect leveling of the platform, lag screws 29 disposed at the corners may be utilized for screwing the corners of the platform down to the floor or some other supcovering the floor of the platform so as to secure the most erfect travel of the balls as well as being urable in use. Preferably, I use a covering of linoleum or a rubber composition 30, or someother material having the required properties. 1

From the foregoing'description, it will be I understood that I have provided a new game which is based on the principle of billiards,

but still has certain characteristics all of its own in the manner in which it is played and the paraphernalia used. The game is much more suitable for young and old than b11- liards by reason of the fact thatit is played on. a platform on which the playermay step to reach any portionthereof and the use of a mallet instead of a one is much more beneficial, as the positions and movements. assumed by the player are freer and less strained. The paraphernalia, moreover, are comparativelyv inexpensive and thus within the reach of persons of average means. The various parts are made so as to promote durability and efficiency as will be evident from the foregoing description.

Having thus described my invention, I

claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:.

1. As a new article of manufacture, a

game apparatus comprising a platform havmg marginal rails upstanding therefrom, a.-

cushion at the interior of the rails, said cush ion comprising an elastic tubular member, 1

a comparatively inelastic core member, and means for attaching the cushion to the rails.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a

game apparatus comprisin a platform having marginal rails upstan ing therefrom, a cushion at the interior of the rails, said cushion comprising an elastic tubular member, a comparatively inelastic core member, and means engagin the rails and the core member for attachmg the cushion to the rails.

3. As a new article of manufacture, a.

game apparatus comprising a platform havmg marginal rails upstanding therefrom, a cushion at the interior" of the 'rails, said cushion comprising an elastic tubular member, a comparatively inelastic core member, and attaching and guiding means passing freely through the rail engaging the cushion whereby the latter is free to move bodily toward the rail under the impact of a ball. 4. As a new article of manufacture, a game apparatus comprising a platform havmg marginal rails u standing therefrom, said rails bein provi edwith a slot at the interior thereo a cushion held in said slot,

said cushion comprising an elastic tubular member, a comparatively inelastic core member, and attaching and guiding means passing freely through the rail engaging the cushion whereby the latter is free to move bodily toward the rail under the impact of a ball.

5. As a new article of manufacture, a game apparatus comprising a platform having marginal rails upstanding therefrom, a cushion at the interior of the rails, said cushion comprising an elastic tubular member, a comparatively inelastic core member,

attaching and guiding means passing freely through the rail engaging the cushion whereby thelatter is free to move bodily toward the rail under the impact of a ball, and interior corner pieces facing the junction of the cushions.

6. As a new article of manufacture, a game apparatus comprising arplatform having marginal rails upstanding therefrom, a cushion at the interior of the rails, said cushion comprising an elastic tubular memher, a comparatively inelastic core member, attaching and guiding means passing freely through the rail engaging the cushion whereby the latter is free to move bodily toward the rail under the impact of a ball,

and reinforcing plates and interior corner pieces for the meeting ends of the rails and cushions.

7. As a new article of manufacture, a game apparatus comprising a platform having marginal rails upstanding therefrom, a cushion at the interior of the rails, said cushion comprising an elastic tubular-member, a comparatively inelastic tubular core member, and attaching and guiding means passing freely through the rail engaging the cushion whereby the latter is free to move bodily toward the rail under the impact of a ball.

8. As a new article of manufacture, a game apparatus comprising a platform having marginal rails upstanding therefrom, a cushion at the interior of the rails, said cushion comprising an elastic tubular member, a comparatively inelastic core member and screws passing freely through the rail and threaded into the tubular core member.

Signed at New York city in the county of New York and State of New York this 15th day of June A. D. 1914.

MOSES L. HAWKS.

Witnesses:

WM. 1. COHEN, MINNIE S. MILLER. 

